WHEN Matt Walsh moved to Cairns it was only ever a short term thing.
But he fell in love with a footy club – and then fell in love.Today, he remains in the Far North at Cairns Saints with a wife, two kids, three premierships, 99 games and 604 goals to his name.He played VFL for North Ballarat in the early 2000s, but now at 32 he reckons his decision to follow good mate and recently retired Saint Mark Kennedy north all those years ago was a masterstroke.
"I couldn't be happier," the high school teacher said while enjoying the holidays with his children
yesterday."I look back on my career and I'm rapt. I'm living the dream."The full forward is enjoying a remarkable career with Saints, having kicked 604 goals ahead of his 100th appearance tonight at Centrals Trinity Beach under lights.
He has been the beneficiary of a gluttonous Saints' midfield this season, racking up 70 goals already with nine rounds yet to play.Last season Manunda's Ryan Booth topped the goal tally with 79.Walsh could very well beat that tonight and, if he keeps this season's form up, could push Ken Rainsford’s record 128-goal effort from 1999."I couldn’t care less about that though," he said.
"If the team’s going well I don’t worry about how many I’m kicking."
In fact, he said if he passed 100 he would then concentrate on getting teammate Nick Gill (on 50 goals) to the same milestone.
"Jason Eagle did it for me in 2008; slipped back to centre half-forward and I got over the line," he said.
The very fact Saints have that option is an indication of their dominance this year.Gill and Alex MacQueen (33) have helped Saints score three times as many points as they have conceded and they are tipped to pile them on again tonight against the reshuffled Centrals Trinity.
Club president Julian Porter said Walsh would be remembered at the club for various reasons."On field with his freakish hands and accurate kicking boot, and off field as a leader and a mentor for the young players at the club," he said."He's averaged six goals a game. For any player to do that over their career puts them in the elite level."
Last Modified on 25/09/2012 10:16